Susan of PatchworknPlay starts off our new year of our Gridsters Bee with having us make her some New York Beauty blocks.
She sent us to a webpage (Ulas Quiltseite–it’s German) that had ten different New York Beauty blocks on it, and we could pick two different ones (if we were making two).
There was even a block for beginners. I chose Block #1 and Block #6.
Helpful tip: These words mean that she split them to get them printed. You may want to join the outer pieces together so there is no seam. You’ll see what I mean.
I always remember Leann’s tips for sewing curved edges together (her quick video *here*): it’s best to put the concave piece on top, and the convex piece on the bottom. But since I had a curved shape with gazillions of pieces, I reversed it. Don’t know if that made it harder or easier.
The second block had another challenge. If you go and look at it, you can see I was using striped material, and I didn’t want that stripe to tilt. First piece on (above), and I don’t glue my foundation paper piecing, I pin.
I marked the center of the lower edge of the piece (opposite its point). I folded my fabric scrap in half lengthwise and line it up with both centers.
Keeping it in place, I fold back one side, mimicking the slanted edge that needs to be sewn. I finger-press it.
Then using all my skills, I move this carefully to the other side of the unit, holding it up to the light to line up that folded edge where it needs to go. Sometimes it’s easiest to note where the edges are and adjust from there.
Unfold it, being careful not to move it. 
Stitch on that line, trim seam allowances and continue on. They all line up nice and vertical.
We make each other signature blocks, using a white 3 1/2″ square and snowball on two 2-1/2″ squares on either corner, using fabric from the blocks we made. (Click on the link to see a how-to, as well as how we’ve used our signature blocks: sometimes on the back and sometimes on the front of the quilt!)
The key to success: IRON ON A SCRAP OF FREEZER PAPER to the back before writing, as it stabilizes the fabric. I use a Pigma 08 to write.
We always write our name, but other things to write could be:
- IG/blog name
- month/year
- hometown
- name of the bee or why you made the quilt
Looking forward to the rest of year with my Gridster Beemates!
OccasionalPiece--Quilt! 
Thank you Elizabeth for taking such care in constructing my NYBeauty blocks! I love them! I love seeing all the patterns that are being made and look forward to making more of my own! It was also fun to look back at those siggie blocks and how they can be used in our quilts!
Looks like a fun bee and I love a New York Beauty!! Thanks a ton for that tip on labeling – have always struggled writing on fabric and it never occurred to me to just stabilize it with freezer paper – big duh here!!!
Love the fabrics and the variety. The result should be beautiful. One tip I’ve found useful for getting the stripes oriented so they point straight out is to precut the end shape (i.e. the triangle), slightly oversize. Then you can align the seam allowances in the usual manner. I also use Judy Mathieson’s method of folding back on the seam line ‘to be sewn’. The space to be covered lies under the new piece you are trying to align and with a little light behind, you can see the lines and see that you are centered properly. Thanks.
Those are beautiful blocks. I am excited to see her blocks all together. Your stripes turned out perfectly. I’m so glad that you were able to translate that German. It make more sense now. Thanks for all of the links.
I’ve always loved New York Beauty blocks. Right up your alley as they remind me of your circles EPP quilt too.
Your blocks are lovely, I’m glad she loves them also. I’ve always wanted to make some and just might have to try some of the ones you shared. Thanks!
Beautiful, as always. Enjoy them, Susan.
Happy to see you’re enjoying another bee this year. Good for you! Susan picked a good FPP design, and I like what you’ve done, as I’m sure Susan does too.